Component

ABSTRACT

A component including a base body of a relatively hard material and a coating of a relatively soft material, wherein the coating covers at least a main surface area of the base body. The main surface area is delimited by an outer periphery and an edge portion of the coating extends from the periphery and comprises a reinforcement made of a relatively hard material and engages the base body.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a component including a base body of arelatively hard material and a coating of a relatively soft material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Components such as vehicular trim elements, control elements andkeys for actuating electric switches are often coated with a pleasingtactile material, more particularly rubber-like material. If it is notpossible, or not wanted, to produce an intimate connection between thebase body of the component, consisting of a relatively hard material,more particularly plastics, and the material of the coating, then thecoating needs to be secured to the base body mechanically. For thispurpose base body and coating may be designed to positively interlock.Despite this, however, the coating may become detached or distorted.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention provides a component of the aforementioned kind inwhich the coating of a relatively soft material is reliably held by thebase body without become detached or distorted. The component inaccordance with the invention has a base body of a relatively hardmaterial and a coating of a relatively soft material coating the mainsurface area of the base body. The base body has a support structureextending from the periphery and being angled with respect to said mainsurface area, the coating preferably-extends on at least part of thesupport structure. The corresponding edge portion of the coatingcomprises a reinforcement made of a relatively hard material andengaging the base body preferably positively but with which it may alsobe screwed. Due to the reinforcement provided in the edge portion arugged structure is available, permitting a secure fixation to the basebody. In the preferred embodiment the reinforcement is latched in placewith the base body. Such a connection is particularly expedient whenusual fabrication methods such as injection molding several plasticscomponents fail to permit achieving a solid composite between base bodyand coating.

[0004] In one preferred embodiment the coating is further held by thereinforcement in a tensioned condition on the base body, as a result ofwhich a smooth coating surface is assured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Further features and advantages of the invention read from thefollowing description of an example embodiment with reference to theattached drawing in which:

[0006] The Single FIGURE is a section view through an embodiment of thecomponent in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Referring now to the sole FIGURE there is illustrated thecomponent in the form of a key cap for actuating an electric switch,more particularly for a multifunctional steering wheel.

[0008] The component comprises a cap-shaped base body 10 of a relativelyhard plastics material and a coating 12 of a relatively soft rubber-likematerial. The base body 10 has a main surface area and angled side edgeportions. The coating 12 covers the main surface area of the 10 and iscontinued over the edge portion thereof. Embedded in the correspondingedge portion of the coating 12 is a reinforcement in the form of astiffening ring 14 of a relatively rigid material. Molded to the basebody 10 is at least one latching key 10 a clasped by one latching edgeof the stiffening ring 14. Further molded on the stiffening ring 14 is alatching key 14 a clasped by a latching edge of the base body 10. Due tothe latching connection between the base body 10 and the coating 12 areliably connection between the parts is assured even without thematerials of the base body and coating forming a composite. Preferablythe coating 12 is maintained in a tensioned condition on the base body10 by the latching connection so that the coating 12 always presents asmooth surface to the user. Due to the tensioned condition of thecoating 12 on the base body 10 manufacturing tolerances and fluctuationsdue to temperature are also compensated.

1. A component including a base body of a relatively hard material and acoating of a relatively soft material, said coating covering at least amain surface area of said base body, said main surface area beingdelimited by an outer periphery, an edge portion of said coatingextending from said periphery and comprising a reinforcement made of arelatively hard material and engaging said base body.
 2. The componentas set forth in claim 1 , wherein said base body has a support structureextending from the periphery of said main surface area and being angledwith respect to said main surface area.
 3. The component as set forth inclaim 2 , wherein said coating extends on at least part of said supportstructure.
 4. The component as set forth in claim 1 , wherein saidreinforcement is latched to said base body.
 5. The component as setforth in claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement is screwed to said basebody.
 6. The component as set forth in claim 2 , wherein saidreinforcement is formed by a stiffening ring embedded in said edgeportion of said coating.
 7. The component as set forth in claim 1 ,wherein said base body and said reinforcement comprise latching keys andlatching edges which cooperate with each other.
 8. The component as setforth in claim 1 , wherein said coating is made of a rubber-likematerial.
 9. The component as set forth in claim 1 , wherein saidcoating is maintained in a tensioned condition on said base body by saidreinforcement.
 10. The component as set forth in claim 1 , wherein saidmain surface area provides an actuating surface.
 11. The component asset forth in claim 1 , wherein said base body is part of a key cap foractuating an electric switch.